May is already drawing to an end.
It felt like Golden Week was just the other day, but it's already almost June... Once June is over, we'll be halfway through 2023. It feels like the years go by faster every year.
Today, we'll talk about UV protection.
When the sun is out, it makes you feel good, doesn't it? With the rainy season coming up soon, we'll be missing the sun, but it's precisely when the sun is out that we need to be careful of ultraviolet rays. UV care is very important for your skin.
I admit that UV protection is the thing I've neglected the most, and I've been told thousands of times to put on sunscreen before it's too late.
I was in the tennis club in middle and high school, and I thought that if my skin wasn't tanned I would look weak, so I worked hard to tan my skin in the sun!!
Moreover, when I went to Hawaii as a student, I wanted to be mistaken for a local (why?), so I challenged myself to not wear any sunscreen at all (seriously why...).
I wasn't a gal, but thanks to you I was able to enjoy a dark and tanned summer as a 21st year old!
However, the more I learn about UV rays, the more scared I become...
Approximately 80 % of aging is caused by ultraviolet rays (photoaging). 80 % of aging is caused by ultraviolet rays...!!
Damage caused by UV rays penetrates deep into the skin, causing not only blemishes and freckles, but also robbing the skin of firmness and elasticity.
I already know that! They say things like that in commercials too! But I’m writing this as a warning to myself too.
Moreover, I've heard that UV rays are stronger on cloudy days, but even on a cloudy day, 80 % of the UV rays still pass through, so the UV rays are no different from those on a sunny day.
Wear sunscreen even on cloudy days!
It is said that silk also has UV protection, and it's true.
Silk is made up of protein fibers that absorb ultraviolet rays instead of your skin. It also seems to have some effect depending on the color. It also depends on the thickness of the fabric and the type of color, but black is said to be the most effective.
There is a lot of data available on the ultraviolet ray blocking rate (UV blocking rate), so it is difficult to make a general statement, but it seems that thicker and darker silk has a better blocking rate.
Chemical fibers such as polyester and nylon that advertise UV protection often just reflect UV rays, while silk absorbs the UV rays itself.
When you go out, it is convenient to have thin arm covers because they are light and protect you from the sun. Above all, silk is very comfortable to wear!
Available in three colors: BLACK, WHITE, and BLOSSOM.
Even a single fiber has a wide variety of effects and specifications.
Today, I hope you will think, "Wow, silk has great potential!"
Let's put on sunscreen.
Azusa